Browsing by Author "Mkhwanazi, Sandile Blessing"

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    An analysis of the dynamics and effects of interdepartmental policy discord on post-apartheid South Africa’s border control and border security
    (University of Zululand, 2019) Mkhwanazi, Sandile Blessing
    Borders have a primary responsibility of separating political entities (states) and the creation of national identities within states. In the African context, borders were created through colonial fiat, and have remained intact, except in the two cases: that of South Sudan and Eritrea. This study investigated inadequate policy harmonisation amongst the various departments or agencies responsible for border control in South Africa. In South Africa, there are seven departments responsible for border control, and they operate without a binding policy or legislation. This study investigated how this policy fragmentation from various agencies have affected border control and border security. Using qualitative approach with key informants from primary departments responsible for border control and analysing policy documents from primary departments, this study found that inadequate policy harmonisation amongst border control agencies does compromise border control and border security. It leads to ineffective practices in that work is duplicated, accountability is compromised and it leads to competition amongst agencies, and further leads to conflicts between agencies. Furthermore, inadequate policy harmonisation seemingly impedes the objectives of regional integration. The study also shows that South Africa has been observed to take a restrictive stance concerning immigration in that it puts the sovereignty of its interests above those of the region. Lastly, there have been calls to have an integrated approach towards border control which led to the introduction of Border Management Authority Bill (BMA). The BMA has been passed in the National Assembly, although it has been opposed by the opposition political parties owing to a number of concerns that emerged. The challenge of policy fragmentation has persisted as the political will to pursue the BMA softened due to changes in the political administration of the country, as it was initially developed during Jacob Zuma’s presidency, therefore, the change from Jacob Zuma to Cyril Ramaphosa changed the political actors who pushed for the BMA. The study then recommends that South Africa needs to harmonise its border policies and embrace regional integration.
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    Assessing the implementation of neoliberal policies in the city of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality: challenges of service delivery
    (University of Zululand, 2023) Mkhwanazi, Sandile Blessing; Mthethwa, Richard M.
    Johannesburg has been strategically critical in South Africa as it has been an economic powerhouse of the country. The economic importance of Johannesburg began during the colonial era, well into apartheid and the democratic era. At the demise of apartheid, South Africa adopted neoliberalism, which eventually amplified colonial and apartheid-era inequalities while thwarting social justice. This study investigates the implementation of neoliberal policies in local government, intending to establish the nexus between neoliberalism as an economical approach with service delivery protests; insecurities linked to protest violence and police brutality; and governance with a specific focus on the townships and informal settlements (urban peripheries), specifically focusing on the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. The City of Johannesburg has faced the challenge of protest action against the local government proportionally more often compared to other municipalities. Using a qualitative approach, the primary data was collected via interviews and focus group discussions with officials responsible for implementing policies, residents in the urban peripheries, selected government departments and academic experts, while secondary data was collected through policy documents and a literature survey. The study finds that adopting neoliberalism in local government has increased economic inequality, and that the City of Johannesburg has the highest inequality compared to other municipalities. Although there was resistance in the form of protests against neoliberalism in the early years of democracy, protests changed and were directed towards local government service provision. Further, neoliberalism is associated with creating new peripheries, creating a distinction between the core and peripheries and is thus associated with insecurities from the peripheries. The study recommends improved governance, extensive stakeholder engagement, improved monitoring and evaluation, and a modification of neoliberalism for South Africa.